Lopez, who served as a judge on Seasons 10 and 11, did hint on the ‘TODAY’ show yesterday (July 12) that it might be her time to go. But there were no hints during this chat. She confirmed it, in an emotional way.

First, Lopez said, “It’s been a long process and you know this more than anybody… I really have been torn, since we spoke about it even before the finale. I did two years since I fell so in love with the show. I never felt so much a part of a family with something, working on it, as I did with ‘Idol.’ It was such a lovely surprise in my life to do it, but you know, even last year, when I had to make the decision, it was super tough to decide.”

She continued to explain how busy her life is and how she has other opportunities, not to mention twins to raise, saying, “Something has to give and that’s where I am right now.”

“Does that mean we’re coworkers or not? Are we breaking up?,” asked the host.

“I was dreading this phone call,” she sighed. “I honestly feel like the time has come that I have to get back to doing the things I’ve put on hold because I love ‘Idol’ so much. We had an amazing run.”

Seacrest then asked, “Is the door open?”

“No matter what you guys need over there, I am always going to be there,” she said. “I don’t know if I can be there every single day, all the time, the way we’ve been doing it the past two years.”

She even cried a little, but chalked it up to a business decision and not being able to put other things on hold any longer in order to do ‘Idol.’